SLV vs. PSLV
SLV (iShares Silver Trust) and PSLV (Sprott Physical Silver Trust) are both Silver funds - SLV tracks the LBMA Silver Price while PSLV tracks the No Index (Physical Silver). Both are passively managed. Over the past 10 years, SLV returned 13.31%/yr vs 11.73%/yr for PSLV. Their correlation of 0.95 suggests significant overlap in exposure. SLV charges 0.50%/yr vs 0.51%/yr for PSLV.
Performance
SLV vs. PSLV - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, SLV achieves a -8.55% return, which is significantly higher than PSLV's -12.85% return. Over the past 10 years, SLV has outperformed PSLV with an annualized return of 13.31%, while PSLV has yielded a comparatively lower 11.73% annualized return.
SLV
- 1D
- -1.01%
- 1M
- -13.82%
- YTD
- -8.55%
- 6M
- -5.70%
- 1Y
- 80.04%
- 3Y*
- 41.99%
- 5Y*
- 19.74%
- 10Y*
- 13.31%
PSLV
- 1D
- -1.86%
- 1M
- -14.98%
- YTD
- -12.85%
- 6M
- -10.08%
- 1Y
- 69.91%
- 3Y*
- 39.09%
- 5Y*
- 17.56%
- 10Y*
- 11.73%
SLV vs. PSLV - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SLV iShares Silver Trust | -8.55% | 144.66% | 20.89% | -1.09% | 2.37% | -12.45% | 47.30% | 14.88% | -9.19% | 5.82% |
PSLV Sprott Physical Silver Trust | -12.85% | 145.08% | 19.43% | -1.94% | 2.74% | -14.13% | 42.81% | 16.99% | -11.83% | 4.28% |
Correlation
The correlation between SLV and PSLV is 0.98 - these two move nearly in lockstep. At this level, holding both provides almost no diversification benefit. If you already own one, adding the other does little to reduce portfolio risk.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.98 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.98 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.98 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.96 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Oct 29, 2010 | 0.95 |
The correlation between SLV and PSLV has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.95 to 0.98 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
SLV vs. PSLV — Risk / Return Rank
SLV
PSLV
SLV vs. PSLV - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for iShares Silver Trust (SLV) and Sprott Physical Silver Trust (PSLV). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
Values are calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. Risk-adjusted metrics are more stable over longer periods — use the period switch above to explore them.
| SLV | PSLV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.16 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.12 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.28 | 1.25 | +0.03 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.77 | 1.57 | +0.21 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.70 | 3.45 | +0.25 |
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Drawdowns
SLV vs. PSLV - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum SLV drawdown since its inception was -76.28%, roughly equal to the maximum PSLV drawdown of -79.38%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for SLV and PSLV.
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Drawdown Indicators
| SLV | PSLV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -76.28% | -79.38% | +3.10% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -45.40% | -44.86% | -0.54% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -45.40% | -44.86% | -0.54% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -45.40% | -44.86% | -0.54% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -45.40% | -44.86% | -0.54% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -44.21% | -43.32% | -0.89% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -44.65% | -58.08% | +13.43% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 21.70% | 20.32% | +1.38% |
Volatility
SLV vs. PSLV - Volatility Comparison
iShares Silver Trust (SLV) and Sprott Physical Silver Trust (PSLV) have volatilities of 13.67% and 14.20%, respectively, indicating that both stocks experience similar levels of price fluctuations. This suggests that the risk associated with both stocks, as measured by volatility, is nearly the same. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| SLV | PSLV | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 13.67% | 14.20% | -0.53% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 59.03% | 58.22% | +0.81% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 60.18% | 59.91% | +0.27% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 36.51% | 36.06% | +0.45% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 32.05% | 31.38% | +0.67% |
SLV vs. PSLV - Expense Ratio Comparison
SLV has a 0.50% expense ratio, which is lower than PSLV's 0.51% expense ratio.
Dividends
SLV vs. PSLV - Dividend Comparison
Neither SLV nor PSLV has paid dividends to shareholders.
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.98, SLV and PSLV move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
PSLV has higher volatility (14.20%) compared to SLV (13.67%). In terms of maximum drawdown, SLV dropped -76.28% vs PSLV's -79.38%.
On 10-year performance, SLV leads with 13.31% vs 11.73% for PSLV. On fees, SLV is cheaper at 0.50% per year. On volatility, SLV has been the lower-risk option at 13.67%. The better choice depends on whether you care most about return, fees, risk, or income.
Over the 10-year period, SLV has performed better with a 13.31% return vs 11.73%. Past performance does not guarantee future results, so compare this with risk, fees, and fund exposure.
SLV is cheaper with a 0.50% expense ratio, compared with 0.51% for PSLV.
SLV and PSLV have nearly identical dividend yields, around 0.00%.
SLV tracks LBMA Silver Price, while PSLV tracks No Index (Physical Silver). They also come from different issuers: iShares and Sprott. Their fees differ too: 0.50% for SLV and 0.51% for PSLV.
SLV currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.34 vs 1.18), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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